Wheel cover



April 10, 1951 G A. LYON 2,547,953

l WHEEL COVER Filed March 18, 1946 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UN I T ED STATES PATE NT OFF IEC EI WHEEL ooVElt George Albertl Lyon, A'll'enhurst; Ni J. lamination:March 18 194e, serial ,No 655,118' gomma (rc1. sof-.str

This invention relates to-a wheel cover. for' an automobile wheel. andmore. particularly to novel retaining means therefor" which will add'. to the ornamental attributes ofthe cover.

An object of `this invention is to provide' improved fastening, means for an annular wheel cover or trim. which is yeconomical to manufacture; andwhich will lend itsehev to easy: aplgilicationA to existing wheel structures.y

Another objectof this invention is to provide a wheel cover withreta'ining means which will utilize the existing wheelr openings ofi a wheel body to advantage in the fasteningof" a cover to .an automobile wheel.V

' In accordance with th'ej general features ofthis invention there is provided in a' cover structure'- for ay wheel including a multi-'angedtire rim part and a i body vpart havingaxial wheel openings, a cover for dispositionion' the' side flangesofr said rim part comprisin'g'an annulus havin-g' a turned inner radial margin. opposite the wheelv openings and retaining means forA engagement with the wheel parts in said openings, including means fastened to said margin andprojecting-"into-said wheel; openings" for' retaining engagement with at least one of'said wheel parts.

Otherobjectsv and advantages of this invention f will more iully'ap'pearl from the following detailed ing a still further modicationof my"invention As shown on the drawings:

I n the accompanying drawings;J the: reference character i!A designates generally a= conventional pneumatic tube and tirerassemblyl mounted; inthe usual way upona drop. center: multi-hangedv tire rim. Il); Thistire rim part is carriedzinithe usual way-upon a load-bearing oi: bodypart lil, which lcomprises, a dished. metallic.' stamping'.y The part Il is attached at spaced"` intervals to the; base 'flange of the: rim part'.v leaving axialwheell openings I2 throughwhiohair' can circulatefinaman-f ner well known to those familiar withthis'wl-i'eel art;

The central' portion" ofthe lbody part I-l is dished at lso as to proviii'ea portion=forattachment in a conventional mannerto* an axle of an antoniobile vehicle bymeans of cap screws or'bolts (not shown'". The central dishe'd' portion offthe-bedy part Il has fastened to it a plurality of circum ferentially spaced: inverted spring clips |54 which may be of any'suitable number; such; for'example,

as three to ve. These spring clips HFl detachably:

hold on the wheell inthe usual'y manner-V a metallic hub cap b5, This structure'is conventional and constitutes no" part of-A the present a inventionl M-ypresent inventionf isf particularlyl concerned witha= provision of anannular wheel cover mand more particularly tonovel retaining means for holding'thel same on the two parts of` the wheel. This cover -'B may bemadfe-off any suitable sheet material, such as sheet steel although" I: prefer#- ably contemplate making it of a synthetic there moplastic materiali, suchl, for example, as ethyl cellulose; cellulose acetate or Vinyliresins.A

'Ilhe` cover includes an: outery angular leg*V I?! adapted t'ooverhang.; an outer edge of the-Ltire rim part I 0 in close proximity to the outer.v side wallof the: tire;` This annular cover# ring; lliv extends generally;v axiallyA and;v radially inwardly' from. the turned?. edge; IJ. to a' Iposition oppositethe, wheel openings? l2... Itisgenerally oia convex-concave cross-sectional; contour and is, in reality, a; tire simulating'portion.

More specifically,. thiscover;` I-6 is'ofv such radial depthl and isi of: such. locationzrelativey t@ the; wheel that inruseit) appears to constitute an: extension of the side wall of the tire. This appearancezmay be. accentuateda byl making.,r the ringi` with ai white external. finish` in. which` event it will appear to constitute: a white; side wall part of thetire'.-` In other' wordsg, itf gives the. appearancey of. the: tire having a white side wall and in which" the tireappears to extend clear down tothe; body part H of the wheel.

The ring. L6 has` an.` opening I8: through: which a valve stem. 8- of. the: tire and tube: assemblyV 9 can project so as to be accessible- .The inner; margin of, the ring, I6Y is slightly turnedl at' I-9.Y so as tor'be fastened to4 a retaining ringv designated: generally by the reference character 20.. This retaining ring extendsradially inwardly of the cover I6 and' has a turned. inner marginZl adapted to. overhang andbearf aga-inst the-.body partf I-l.

Attachedto thelretaining. ring andA comprising integral components thereof are a plurality of deformation in spring clips designated generally by the reference character 25, and which correspond in number to the wheel openings I2. These spring clips 25 each include an inclined retaining nger 26 for wedged engagement in a wheel opening I2 between the parts of the wheel. In addition, each spring clip 25 includes a radially outwardly extending flange 21 fastened by means of rivets or bolt means 23 to the ring 2D and to the turned margin I9 of the cover I6.

Attention is directed to the fact that the cover I6 is adapted to seat on a shoulder 22 formed in the ring 20 opposite the wheel openings I2.

From the foregoing it is clear that I'have provided a retaining means for thewheel cover I8, which includes a retaining ring 20 provided with a seat for an inner margin I9 of the cover ring and which, in addition, is attached to the spring clips 25, which are in reality integral with the ring 20 and the cover I6.V

lhese spring clips 25 are adapted to be slid axially into the wheel openings I2 so as to have a wedged or biting engagement with at least one of the parts; namely, the base flange of the rim part IU and to hold the cover ring I6 in tight engagement at II with an outer edge of the rim part.

y The radially inner margin of the cover ring I'I is bottomed upon tne body part II at the turned edge 2l.

Attention is directed to the fact that this cover 4structure of my invention constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,368,254, and more particularly constitutes an improvement in the retaining means for holding -the plastic ring on the wheel. l The plastic trim ring of this invention has all of the advantages and attributes of that disclosed and claimed broadly in my aforesaid patent.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a modification of the invention, wherein the same wheel is associated with an annular trim ring 30 having its outer margin 3| bearing upon the rim part I0 of the wheel.

Y rI`he inner margin 32-of the cover ring 30 is :turned generally radially outwardly opposite the Wheel openings I2 andis held in retaining co- :operation with an edge 35 of the body part II :of the wheel by means of fastening U-shaped bolts 33. Each of these bolts has a hook portion .34 for hooking over the edge of the part I I in one ;of the openings I2 and a wing nut 36 adapted to .tightly clamp the margin 32 of the cover ring 30 in position.

It is, of course, clear that the number of bolts S33 used in connection with the cover ring 30 depends upon the number of wheel openings I2.

-It is usual to employ three to ve wheel openings ;I2 in a wheel.

In the mounting of the wheel cover 30 on the wheel the hook ends of the fastening element 33 are engaged over the edges 35 of the body part and are then tightened in position by means of the wing nut 35.

` AAccess may be had to the wing nut from behind the cover ring 30 due to the fact that the cover ring is made of a re'silintly pliable material and can be flexed outwardly in order to afford access to the wing nut. The material from which the cover ring 30 is madeis such that' the cover ring may be laterally `deflected. Without permanent 'order to 'afford access to the wing nu`t36`.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a still further modication of the invention wherein the cover ring 40 cooperates with the same type of wheel shown in the other figures. This cover ring 40 includes an outer turned edge 4I adapted to overhang an outer edge of the rim part I0 in close proximity to the side wall of the tire.

This ring 40, as in the case of the other forms. may be made of any suitable plastic material. It has an inner turned margin 42 cooperable with a retaining ring 43 having associated with it spring clips 46 projecting into the wheel openings I2. More specifically the annular metal ring 43 has a turned back portion 44 turned back upon the main body of the ring for anchoring in place the innermargin 42 of the plastic ring 40. In addition, the ring 43 has an outer marginal portion 45 behind the ring 40 which is fastened to outer extremities of the spring clips 46 by means of rivets or bolts 41.. The outer margin 45 of this ring is disposed opposite the wheel openings and in close proximity to the rear surface of the plastic ring 40.

Any suitable number of spring clips 46 is attached to the rings 40 and 43, and corresponds in number to the wheel openings. Each of these spring clips, as in the previous forms, is adapted to be detachably wedged in the wheel opening for the purpose of holding the wheel cover and ornamental ring on the wheel.

Attention is directed to the fact that in both Figures 2 and 4 the retaining means can be easily disengaged from fastening cooperation with the wheel parts by the insertion of a screw driver or the like from the rear side of the wheel into the wheel opening, In other words, upon the engagement of the end of a screw driver with the retaining clips in the wheel opening, the retaining fingers can be forced axially outwardly so as to disengage the retaining means from biting engagement with the base flange of the tire rim part.

Thereafter the cover and its retaining means can be disengaged from the wheel. In Figure 3, as distinguished from the other forms, this disengagement is effected by releasing the wing nuts 36 which will enable disengagement of the hook bolts 33 from engagement with the wheel body part.

In all forms the cover constitutes a continuation of the side wall of the tire so that the tire is given the appearance of being much more massive than it is in reality.

In addition, in all forms, the retaining means tends to rigidify or strengthen an inner margin of the annular trim ring, particularly at its point of retention on the wheel.

I claim as my invention:

l1. In a cover structure for a wheel including a multi-hanged tire rim part having axial wheel openings, a cover for disposition opposite side flanges of said rim part, comprising an annulus having a turned inner radially disposed margin opposite said wheel openings and retaining means for engagement with the wheel parts in said openings including an element having means fastened to said margin and projecting linto a wheel opening for retaining cooperation with one of said wheel parts, said retaining means including a portion turned back upon itself radially inwardly of the cover for defining an ornamental bead for the cover.V 2. In a wheel structure including tire rim land load bearing body parts. vthe body part being formed at the juncture with the tire rim with a plurality of wheel opening-s, an annular cover assembly including a portion covering the tire rim and the wheel openings and a portion engaging the body part, said last mentioned portion having a flange extending generally radially outwardly behind the covering portion, retaining elements engaging within said wheel openings to retain the cover assembly on the wheel and having the axially outer portions thereof formed to extend in a generally radially outward direction, and means securing Said generally radially outwardly extending portions of the retaining elements to said flange.

3. In a wheel structure including tire rim and load bearing body parts, the body part being formed at the juncture with the tire rim with a plurality of wheel openings, an annular cover assembly including' a portion covering the tire rim and the wheel openings and a portion engaging the body part, said last mentioned portion having a ilange extending generally radially outwardly behind the covering portion, retaining elements engaging within said wheel openings to retain the cover assembly on the wheel and having the axially outer portions thereof formed to extend in a generally radially outward direction, and means securing said generally radially outwardly extending portions of the retaining elements 4to said ilange, said means comprising rivets extending through said portions of the retaining elements and said ilange.

4. In a cover structure for a wheel including a tire rim and av body part having wheel openings at the juncture with the tire rim, a cover annulus for concealing the tire rim and the wheel openings and having a generally radially outwardly underturned flange at its inner margin, a ring member allording an ornamental bead at the radially inner side of the cover annulus and a flange extending generally radially outwardly in face to face abutment at the axially inner side of said cover annulus flange, cover retaining clips for engaging within said wheel openings and having the axially outer portions thereof engaging the axially inner side of said radially outwardly projecting flange of the bead member, and elements extending through the superimposed ilanges of the cover annulus and the bead member and the retaining element portions and securing the same together as a unitary assembly.

5. In a cover structure for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel including tire rim and body parts wherein the body part has wheel opening formations at the juncture with the tire rim, a cover annulus for covering the outer side of the tire rim and the wheel openings and having a generally radially inwardly extending in ner marginal flange, a retaining annulus having a turned over portion providing a reentrant gen erally radially outwardly opening groove within which said flange is secured and a portion extending generally radially outwardly behind the cover annulus and formed with a generally radially and axially outwardly extending flange, and retainingl elements engageable within the wheel openings for retaining the cover on the wheel and having axially outer portions secured to said retaining annulus flange.

6. In combination in a cover of the character described, adapted for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel and comprising a cover annulus for substantially concealing the outer side of a tire rim and wheel openings between the tire rim and load sustaining body of the wheel, said annulus having a generally radially outwardly underturned flange arranged to lie opposite the wheel openings, and means for securing the cover annulus to the wheel including parts extending through said ange for securing the retaining means and the annulus in unitary assembly.

7. In combination in a cover assembly for disposition at the outer side of a Vehicle wheel including tire rim and body parts with wheel openings between the parts, a cover annulus for disposition at the outer side of the tire rim and having a generally radially extending ilange at its inner margin, a reinforcing ring member assembled with said flange, and means for retaining the cover assembly on the wheel including parts engaging within the wheel openings and parts extending through said ring to secure the retaining means in the assembly.

8. A cover assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the cover annulus flange and the reinforcing ring are superimposed and the means for securing the retaining means extend not only through the reinforcing ring but also through said flange.

9. A cover according to claim '7 wherein the reinforcing ring is formed with a return bent clamping jaw and the ilange of the coverannulus is clamped within said jaw.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,279,331 Lyon Apr. 14, 1942 2,368,244 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 2,363,246 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 

